Place mat



Oct. 5, 1965 J. WACHTEL 3,209,476

PLACE MAT Filed April 26, 1963 I N VE NTOR.

BY Jae/r Wac/z/e/ Ari/7U! ,4. Marc/7 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,209,476 PLACE MAT Jack Wachtel, 48 Franklin Road, Scarsdale, N.Y. Filed Apr. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 275,999 4 Claims. (Cl. 40-70) This invention relates in general to place mats for use in table settings and more specifically to a place mat which is particularly constructed and arranged so as to capture ones attention and maintain ones interest at mealtime.

It ha been observed that mealtime is often a trying experience for relatively small children and their parents. This is especially true when a family eats out in public restaurants, cafeterias, hotels, roadhouses and the like. This is primarily due to the fact that children become restless and bored during the Wait for food to be served and/or during the meal. Such restless children not only detract from the familys enjoyment of the meal, but they also tend to disturb the other patrons in the restaurant and the like.

In such establishments and also in the home a place mat is often utilized at each table setting. Generally, the known place mats consisted simply of a sheet of material of usually plain or ornate configuration. However, such known place mats were generally utilized either for enhancing the place setting or for protecting the table surface from the tableware and spillage of food.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel place mat adapted for use as a table setting and which is constructed and arranged so as to constitute a source of amusement or play for a child at mealtime for maintaining his interest and to encourage good behavior during the meal.

It is another object of this invention to provide a place mat constructed and arranged so as to supply interesting information or stories which will occupy ones time during the wait for service or during the interval between food servings. Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved table place setting mat that is specifically constructed and arranged to attract the attention of young children and to maintain their interest and behavior during mealtime.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved place setting mat having a relatively high degree of play appeal for adding enjoyment to the meal.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a place mat with readily interchangeable means for dissemination of information of various kinds.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved place setting which may be adapted to use in commercial establishments and on which information can be disseminated from day to day or changed from one day to another according to circumstances.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved place mat which is relatively simple in construction, positive in operation and relatively inexpensive to produce.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a place mat which is durable and lasting in construction and one which can be repeatedly used in accordance to varying interests for an indefinite period of time.

In accordance with this invention the foregoing 'objects and other features and advantages are attained by a place mat comprising a sheet of material with means integrally connected thereto to define a pocket. The pocket is opened at one end for receiving an insert which has thereon indicia means, stories or information which can be readily seen through Window means formed in pocket forming means.

In one form of the invention the dial element is rotat- 3,209,476 Patented Oct. 5, 1965 ably journaled to the insert. Accordingly, the dial element has formed thereon a series of indicia means spaced about the periphery thereof so as to be disposed in alignment with the window formed in the pocket means. The arrangement is such that the peripheral portion of the dial element extends outwardly through the open end of the pocket so that it may be manually turned to effect the alignment of the desired indicia means thereon with the window of the pocket means. Thus childrens picture stories or the like may be placed on the dial element and the dial manipulated by the child to tell the story. In another form of the invention a readily interchangeable card type insert may be disposed in the pocket means.

A feature of this invention resides in an improved place setting mat which has integrally connected thereto means defining a pocket into which an insert information carrying media may be positioned.

Another feature resides in a novel place mat having means to provide play appeal for the amusement of small children.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent when considered in view of the specification and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of an improved place mat in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of an insert adapted to be received in the place mat of FIG. 1 and having parts thereof broken away;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified construction of a place mat in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional end view taken along line 66 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 illustrates a plan view of an insert adapted to be received in the pocket of the place mat of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 illustrates a modified place mat;

FIG. 9 illustrates a sectional view taken along line 99 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a detail plan view of the insert of FIG. 10.

Referring to the drawings, there are illustrated several embodiments embodying the inventive concept of this invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the place mat 20 comprises a pair of rectangularly shaped, overlying sheets of material 21, 22 which may be plastic, such as vinyl or other suitable material. If desired, the top sheet 21 may be imprinted with any suitable or amusing theme, as shown. The overlying sheets 21, 22 are secured together along three marginal edges thereof either by a sewn seam or a fusible heat seal 23 seam to define a pocket that is open along the other edge 24. Formed in the top sheet 21 of the mat 20 are cutout portions to define a pair of windows 25, 26. The windows 25, 26 are disposed in vertical spaced relationship adjacent the open end 24 of the pocket.

Receivable within the pocket formed by sheets 21 and 22 is an insert 27. The insert 27 is formed of a relative- 1y stiff material as, for example, cardboard, paperboard, or the like. The insert 27, as shown in FIG. 2, is substantially coextensive in area to that of the pocket defined by the overlying sheets 21, 22. The insert 27 is readily insertable through the open end 24 of the pocket. If desired, the corner portions at 28, 29 at the open end of the pocket may be sealed or secured so as to permanently retain the insert 27 therein.

As seen in FIG. 2, the insert 27 has a strip 30 of transparent material extending from top to bottom thereof adjacent the end of the insert adapted to be disposed near the open end of the pocket.

Rotatabiy connected to the insert 27 are a pair of Wheels or dial elements 31, 32. The respective dial elements 31, 32 are rendered freely rotatable about their pivot or pin 31A, 32A connections between the insert 27 and the translucent strip 30. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the peripheral portions of the respective dial elements 31, 32 overlap slightly midway between the longitudinal edges of the insert 27.

In accordance with this invention each of the dial elements 31, 32 has formed thereon a series of informative or amusing indicia 33, 34, respectively, as for example, pictures, cartoons, printed matter, and the like. With the insert 27 positioned in the pocket formed between the overlying sheets 21 and 22, the arrangement is such that the indicia 33, 34 of the respective dials 31, 32 can be readily brought into alignment with the respective windows 25, 26 by effecting rotation of the respective dial elements 31 and 32. The arrangement in FIG. 1 is such that a peripheral portion of each of the respective dial elements 31, 32 extends slightly beyond the open end 24 of the pocket. Consequently, each dial element can be manually rotated at will. In this manner a child can readily amuse himself by playing with the wheel elements 31, 32, so as to bring the indicia thereon into appropriate alignment with the windows.

FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrate the modified form of the invention. In this form of the invention the place mat 40 consists of a body 41 formed of a single sheet of material which may be either plastic or other suitable, durable type of material. Essentially, the place mat 40 is substantially rectangular in plan view. However, it will be understood that the mat may be made in any desired shape. In this form of the invention, the means defining a pocket are connected along one side of the single sheet 41. The pocket forming means comprises a translucent front sheet 42 and back sheet 43. The respective sheets 42, 43 defining the pockets are secured along three of the marginal peripheral portions thereof as indicated at 44, 45 and 46 by a suitable seam which may be sewn or fused. The longitudinal edge 45 of the pocket is secured to one edge of the single sheet 41 place mat. The arrang ment is such that an interchangeable insert 47 may be readily positioned within the pocket element. To facilitate insertion and removal of the insert from the pocket the front sheet 42 of the pocket means is provided with a pair of cutout portions 42A constructed and arranged so as to facilitate the grasping of the insert 47 in the pocket.

In accordance with this invention, the insert 47, as shown in FIG. 7, comprises a card provided with indicia 47A in the nature of picture stories, cartoons, advertising, menus or other information.

FIGS. 8 to 11 illustrate a still further embodiment of the invention. In this form, the place mat 50 consists of a single sheet of material 51 that is substantially rectangular. A pair of windows 52, 53 are formed in the sheet 51 by blanking out a portion of the sheet. Secured to the underside of the place mat 50 adjacent one end thereof is a relatively stiff backing member 54 which has rotatably journalled thereto a pair of dial elements 55, 56. As shown in FIG. 8, the backing member 54 is secured to the undersurface of the single sheet 51 place mat by a seam 57 which may be either sewn or heat fusible, depending on the type of material used.

Each of the dial elements 55, 56 is constructed and arranged as disclosed and described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. It will be noted that a marginal portion of the dial members projects outwardly beyond the outer edge of the single sheet 51. Thus the respective dial elements 55, 56 may be manually turned at will so as to position any of the indicia marked thereon in register with one of the windows 52, 53 corresponding thereto.

From the foregoing construction it will be readily apparent that a place mat embodying the instant invention is readily convertible into a device for maintaining the interest of both young and old alike. For example, in the case of the very young, the indicia on the respective dial elements 31, 32 or 55, 56 may pertain to pictures, stories and cartoons which are of particular interest to small children. For older children the inserts 27, 47, 54 may contain a source of education and entertainment information. Thus the interest established by the place mat construction described will so preoccupy a child that his behavior during mealtime can be controlled. The invention further contemplates the use of interchangeable inserts so that the story or information contained on a given place mat can be changed from meal to meal, from day to day, or season to season, as may be required. While the particular invention is particularly applicable to holding and occupying the attention of small children during meal time, its use can be further applied to editorial approaches directed to an adult level. For example, in the construction described the respective inserts can be lent to advertising. For example, the inserts when used in restaurants may be used to advertise special foods or services. In restaurants or hotel dining rooms frequented by tourists, the inserts may supply information concerning local doings and/ or places of interest. In school or company cafeterias, the inserts may be arranged so as to give daily information as to menu, local news, or other informa tion of interest for the patrons frequenting such cafeterias and restaurants.

Thus, the inserts may be utilized to display comic strips or picture stories for entertaining the very young, educational material for the intermediate age levels, or games, puzzles and the like for attracting and holding the attention of persons of all ages before, during and after the meal.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that the specific place mat constructions are arranged to capture and hold the attention of children, to control and encourage their good behavior at meals, and to teach facts or points of interest and the like to all so as to utilize mealtimes as a time for broadening ones interests.

Also, the place mat is of particular value to the parent in that it may be used as an incentive for children to improve their eating habits and manners.

While the instant invention has been disclosed with reference to several embodiments thereof, it is to be appreciated that the invention is not to be taken as limited to all the details thereof as modifications and variations thereof may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A place mat for use as a table setting comprising (a) a pair of overlying sheets of plastic material,

(b) a fused seam extending about the marginal edge portions thereof to define a pocket open along one edge thereof,

(0) a relatively stitf insert interposed between said sheets in said pocket,

((1) means defining a window formed in one of said sheets,

(e) a dial element rotatably journaled to said insert,

(f) said dial element having a series of indicia spaced about the periphery of said dial element whereby said indicia are disposed in alignment with the WindoW formed in said one sheet,

(g) and said dial element having a portion of its periphery extending outwardly of said pocket to facilitate manual turning of the same for selectively positioning one of said indicia in alignment with said window.

2. A place mat for use as a table setting comprising (a) a pair of rectangularly shaped sheets of a readily washable material disposed in coincident overlying relationship,

(b) means for securing the marginal edges of said sheets together along three sides thereof to define a pocket opened along the other edge portion thereof,

(c) an insert of relatively stiff material disposed in said pocket, said insert being substantially co-extensive to the area of said mat,

(d) a pair of vertically spaced windows formed in one of said sheets, said windows being disposed adjacent the opened end of said pocket,

(e) a strip of transparent material connected to said insert whereby said strip is adapted to be disposed in alignment with said windows when said insert is positioned in said pocket,

(f) a pair of dial elements rotatably journaled to said insert,

(g) each dial element being disposed so that a peripheral portion thereof is rendered visible through one of said windows,

(h) indicia means spaced about the periphery of each of said dial elements,

(i) and each of said dial elements having a portion of its periphery projecting outwardly of the opened end of said pocket whereby each of the dail elements may be individually turned so as to align the desired indicia means thereon with said windows.

3. A place mat for use as a table setting comprising (a) a top and bottom rectangularly shaped sheet of a readily pliable and washable plastic material disposed in overlying relationship,

(b) a fused seam securing the marginal edges of said sheets together along three sides thereof to define a pocket opened along the other edge portion thereof,

(0) an insert of relatively stiif material disposed in said pocket, said insert being substantially co-extensive to the area of said pocket,

(d) a pair of vertically spaced windows formed in said top sheet, said windows being disposed adjacent the opened end of said pocket,

(e) a strip of transparent material connected to said insert whereby said strip is adapted to be disposed in alignment with said windows when said insert is positioned in said pocket,

(f) a pair of dial elements rotatably journaled to said insert,

(g) said dial elements being disposed so that a peripheral portion thereof is rendered visible through one of said windows respectively,

(h) indicia means spaced about the periphery of each of said dial elements,

(i) and each of said dial elements having a portion of its periphery projecting outwardly of the opened end of said pocket whereby each of the dial elements may be manually turned so as to align the desired information means with said window.

4. A place mat for use as a table setting comprising:

(a) a top and bottom sheet of readily pliable and washable plastic material disposed in overlying relationship,

(b) a fused seam securing the marginal edges of said sheets together to define a pocket therebetween, (c) said top sheet having a pair of vertically spaced openings therein,

(d) a clear translucent strip of material covering each of said openings to define a pair of windows in said top sheet that looks into said pocket defined between said sheet,

(e) a pair of dial elements disposed within said pocket defined by said sheets,

(f) each of said dial elements being cooperatively associated with only one of said Windows whereby a peripheral portion of the respective dials is rendered visible through its associated window,

(g) means for rotatably journaling said dial elements between said sheets,

(h) each of said dial elements having a series of indica means spaced about the peripheral portions thereof which are adapted to be disposed in alignment with the window associated therewith so as to be readily viewed therethrough as the respective dial elements are rotated,

(i) said dial elements having portions thereof disposed in overlapping relationship,

(j) a means for effecting individual rotation of the respective dial elements to effect manual turning of the same for selectively positioning one of said indicia means thereon in alignment with its associated Window so that a childs attention may be attracted thereby during a mealtime and thereby prohibiting boredom while waiting for the food to be served.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,346,930 7/20 Zion 35-74 1,960,363 5/34 Yearwood 4070 2,787,852 4/57 Youngren 4070 2,959,872 11/60 Rodgers 35-74 2,983,069 5/61 Birney et a1. "161-40 2,999,332 9/61 Stein 161-45 3,040,472 6/62 Miller 248-346.1

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PLACE MAT FOR USE AS A TABLE SETTING COMPRISING (A) A PAIR OF OVERLYING SHEETS OF PLASTIC MATERIAL, (B) A FUSED SEAM EXTENDING ABOUT THE MARGINAL EDGE PORTIONS THEREOF TO DEFINE A POCKET OPEN ALONG ONE EDGE THEREOF, (C) A RELATIVELY STIFF INSERT INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID SHEETS IN SAID POCKET, (D) MEANS DEFINING A WINDOW FORMED IN ONE OF SAID SHEETS, (E) A DIAL ELEMENT ROTATABLY JOURNALED TO SAID INSERT, (F) SAID DIAL ELEMENT HAVING A SERIES OF INDICIA SPACED ABOUT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DIAL ELEMENT WHEREBY SAID INDICIA ARE DISPOSED IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE WINDOW FORMED IN SAID ONE SHEET, (G) AND SAID DIAL ELEMENT HAVING A PORTION OF ITS PERIPHERY EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID POCKET TO FACILITATE MANUAL TURNING OF THE SAME FOR SELECTIVELY POSITIONING ONE OF SAID INDICIA IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID WINDOW. 